September 30, 2012
Morning Worship
Text: James 2:1-13
Subject: Favoritism
Title: Equal in God’s Eyes
I grew up in a turbulent time – the 60’s. We saw the attack on our culture from the enemy through music and movies. We saw the assassination of a president. We saw an unpopular war being waged that was never meant to be won. And we experienced prejudice in our culture that was being challenged by the civil rights movement.
My Mom and Dad grew up in the south in northeast Arkansas in Greene County. They have told me that they could count the number of times they ever saw a black person in their town. They grew up in fear of those who were different than they were. That same mistrust and fear was in our home growing up. We were taught while we were growing up in suburban St. Louis, in a town called Ferguson, that you never went into Kinloch. It was too dangerous for a white to go into a black neighborhood. I honestly cannot remember ever having any kind of contact with a person of color until we moved out of the city. In the country, just outside of Flint Hill, one of our neighboring families was a bi-racial family. Can you imagine how they were looked down upon back then? But one of the boys in the family was our age and we spent a lot of time together. Then when we moved to Troy a few years later we had quite a few African American kids in our class. One of my best friends was Larry Littleton. His dad was a hard working man – a plumber by trade and everyone respected him. But I could never invite Larry to our house. My parents would never have allowed that.
My mom and my step-dad ran a country store. All the old timers would come and sit around inside and swap stories. All except Pete Bradshaw. Pete would come in and get a soda and a candy bar and then go sit on a bench outside the store. Because of the color of his skin it wasn’t allowed for him to sit inside. Pete was my favorite. I loved to listen to the stories he told of his younger days and some of those stories were stories of prejudice. I was so thankful that after many years of being left outside Pete was finally allowed to sit inside and participate in the conversation with the other locals.
Where did the church go wrong? What happened to cause even bible believing Spirit –filled Christians to be filled with hatred towards another who had been created in His image? The Book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus died for the sin of all mankind – once and for all. What part of for all did the church not understand?
The reason that I raise those questions is because of what our passage says today. And though we may think that we aren’t like our parents or grandparents, I am going to challenge you today to look at yourself to see how you really are toward those who are different than you.
Read James 2:1-13
I believe this is God’s Word…
I believe it is for me…
I accept it as mine…
And I appropriate it to my life today…
We are all equal in God’s eyes.
I. BELIEVERS DON’T SHOW FAVORITISM… 1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. In many of the New Testament letters, the writers were trying to correct issues that were already taking place within the church. The grammatical construction of “don’t show favoritism” in the original Greek could easily read, “stop showing favoritism.” Why? Because to do so is inconsistent with the Christian faith. We should never accept or reject anyone because of their appearance, social status, race etc. Paul wrote to the churches in Galatia, Galatians 3:26-28, 26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. A significant aspect of the work of Jesus was to break down these walls that divided humanity, and to bring forth one new race of mankind in Him. Ephesians 2:14-15, 14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, In order to address the problem James goes into a hypothetical situation, 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Look at verse 2. the word “meeting” is the Greek word synagoge. This is the only place in the New Testament where this Greek word is used to refer to the church. And here it is obvious because James was writing to Jewish Christians that they would continue to think of their meeting palace as a synagogue. It also helps us understand the mindset behind the way they were treating people in the church. The prevailing Jewish thought was the more a person had, the more favor they had from God. God blesses those who are obedient to Him. So if God is showing them favor, then why shouldn’t we? In verse 3, the word “if” is better translated “since”. It shows that they were practicing discrimination against the poorer brothers. Verses 3 and 4 confirm it. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? That is the problem. We often discriminate against others without even realizing it. We just choose not to get to know them or associate with them. It is so much easier to respond like that than it is to take time to get to know someone. Listen to me; there is a big difference between talking to someone for 5-10 minutes before or after church and really getting to know them. It takes real effort to become acquainted with people. And that is what believers are called to do.
II. BELIEVERS DON’T SEE RICH OR POOR… I knew a man once – I even called him friend – who thought that because he had a six figure a year job and he paid his tithes faithfully, that he was entitled to a greater say in how the church was run. 5Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? This is a principle that we see being lived out in third world countries everywhere. Because there is famine, drought, conflict, or sickness in those countries their only hope is in Jesus Christ. And we know from reports heard from around the world that God is manifesting Himself in awesome ways to those who have nothing else to rely on – only faith in God. IT is because God has chosen them to inherit the kingdom. The truth is, He has chosen us in America as well. Now, let me back up a little. Just because someone is poor does not mean that they will automatically inherit God’s promises – it comes by faith. But we’re talking about believers here. It doesn’t matter whether you are rich or poor, you can only receive that inheritance by faith. Can’t buy it, can’t work for it, can’t pay for a doctor to fix it. You can only receive it by faith. Often it is the poor who are the richest in faith because they only can trust God for their needs. Now James directly addresses the church, 6But you have insulted the poor… When we choose people by what we can see on the surface, we miss the mind of God. Remember that Judas appeared to be much better leadership material than Peter. It isn’t the poor only that God has called. But it is the poor who seem more ready to receive God’s inheritance. Look at what was happening in the church back then. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? Wow, those are pretty strong words. Let’s take it a step further. James is talking about those who have found favor with the existing congregation. Some visitors are treated with greater respect than others. And many times it isn’t because they are rich. It is because they appear to be more like us. They fit in. As a matter of fact I have often said that about some who visit. They seem to be a good fit. But what about those who have a different background. Let me get a little more personal here. When Earl and Margie walker started attending here they were welcomed by all. Earl has lived in the area most of his life. Margie’s grandson is a pastor in Hannibal. They are both talented in music. Earl is a good teacher. They seemed like a good fit. We all got to know them and are getting to know them more and more. But what about the one who has come into the church from a drug culture with jail time behind them? Oh! Well we have to be careful about allowing “those types” into the church. 1 Corinthians 1:26-30, 26Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him.
III. BELIEVERS FOLLOW THE COMMANDS OF GOD… what are the commandments that Jesus gave as the most important? Matthew 22:34-40, 34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Look at what James said, 8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. Do you see the word “love” right in the middle of that verse? It is that Greek agapao word. Talking about the unconditional love that God has for us. So if you can honestly look at everyone else in the church and say I agapeo them, you do well. But, if you say, “I love so-and-so, but… you have removed the unconditional status from love. 8IIf you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. Would you agree with me that murder and adultery are pretty serious in the biblical scheme of things? Ye t God forgives even those things. But don’t gloss over verse 9, 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. There’s a wonderful story about a Chicago bank that once asked for a letter of recommendation on a young Bostonian being considered for employment. The Boston investment house could not say enough about the young man. His father, they wrote, was a Cabot; his mother was a Lowell. Further back was a happy blend of Saltonstalls, Peabodys, and other of Boston’s first families. His recommendation was given without hesitation. Several days later, the Chicago bank sent a note saying the information supplied was altogether inadequate. It read: "We are not contemplating using the young man for breeding purposes. Just for work." Neither is God a respecter of persons but accepts those from every family, nation, and race who fear Him and work for His kingdom (Acts 10:34-35). Kathleen Peterson.
Let’s close with verses 12-13, 12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
The words speak and act are much stronger in the Greek than in the English. These words are emphatic. You should not view this as if you have a choice. Speak and act like you are going to be judged, because you are. Remember that favoritism, partiality, prejudice, are all sins. And really they are just different words for the same activity.
Before you judge anyone, get to know them. That is a word for those who have been here for a long period of time and for those who are new. Established folks, don’t judge others as being too zealous to be able to fit in. I’ve told you the story before about a former pastor of mine who told me I needed to loose my zeal. I’m glad I didn’t listen to him.
To those who are zealous, do not judge others thinking them to be too complacent. You don’t know them. You don’t know their personalities.
To those who are rich and those who are poor, don’t judge one another.
In Matthew 7:1-2 Jesus said, 1“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
How do you look at others? Do you see them the way that God sees you? Can you see that we are all equal in God’s eyes?
This vision for people goes beyond how you view their lives. It extends to how you treat them. Do you respect all of God’s people? Do you hold them in high esteem? God does.
Those who honor Me I will honor…
Shouldn’t we do the same with God’s people?
